Omaha daily bee., 1887-08-28
THE GARDNER SHOOTING.
Interest in the Mysterious Tragedy
Continues Unabated.


GARDNER, ILL.,, August 25.--lSpecial Tel
egram to the BEE. Interest in the Babcock
shooting affair still continues here and re-
ports of the proceedings at the inquest in
Chicago yesterday were read with great at
tenton and are the universal subject of con-
versation and discussion. The prevalent
opinion, as expressed here, Is that the evil
dence given throws no new light on the
tragedy and Is wholly insufficient to connect
Miss Dodge with it directly or in such man
ner as would convict her of any criminal act.
1t ls held here pretty generally that all that
has as yet been discovered about the shoot
ing is entirely compatible with the theory of
Miss DOdye's innocence advanced by her
friends and those in whom she is under
stood TO have conided Opinion is also
pretty generally expressed that the proposed
investigation by the grand jury will be
equally void of result and is almost certain
to end in the return of no bill AGAINST Miss
Dodge. The reluctance of Colonel BabcOck
to make any explicit statement of
how he got shot, and his assertion
to DIR. McMann that if he had not grabbed
held here to eXonOrate Miss Dodge from all
blame in the matter. Even should the grand
jury find an Indictment against her. 1t Is be-
lieved the trial would be certain to result in
| could be obtained to convict her, and. al
though Miss Dodge is by no means favOrite
| here, popular opinion and sympathy are alto
| gether on her side in this instance. In Chi
cago a reporter called to-day at the residence
| of Mr.. Wheeler, Colonel Babcock's business
| partner. In the absence OF Mr.. and Mrs.
| Wheeler ana of Mr.. Caldwell, Mrs. c. Ill.
| Owens, daughter of Mr. Wheeler, informed
the reporter that ner parents Mr.. Caldwell
and the other friends OF the deceased gentle
man were of the opinion that the shooting
| was accidental.
| "IIave they expressed satisfaction or dis.
satisfaction with the verdict OF the coroner's
II do not know. You may say that we all
think the fatal occurrence accidental shoot
| ing; that Is all know"
| you are all convinced OF that?'
| "Yes."
| CHICAGO, August 27-The corOners Jury
| in the case of the death of Colonel Walter S.
| Babcock returned a verdict yesterday to the
| effect that the deceased came to his death
from shock and hemorrha o caused by a
| pistol ball wound in the abdomen; and that
| while there was no direct testimony to the
fact, the jury believed from what testimony
| 1t had that tine wound was inflicted BY Sarah
Dodge the night of August 10 at or near
Gardner, Grundy county, Illinois, and recon-
county more fully Investigate the case.
After the jury had retired, after hearing the
testimony, Coroner Hertz informed Its mem
bers that Miss Dodge had refused 70 make
any statement whatever in the case, and Ia
had not subpGnaed her because he knew she
wOu Id not come.
The inquiry was conducted in the cOroner's
office, DIR. McMann, OF Gardner being tht
first witness called. lie related the circum
stances of being rung up by Colonel Babcoch
at 5:55 last Saturday morning, who stateC
that he had been shot. The wounded man''
vest was open and there was stain on nj
shirt. In response to inquiries Colonel Bah
| cock refused to tell how or when or where hC
was shot, though he said he would tell thu
doctor later. The doctor then described hi
treatment of the patient, how he bad hin
carried to the depot from his Office ON I
lounge, and that, he accompanied him 4
Chicago at the wounded mans earnest re